Infinite Days

August 2, 2010
Maizel’s dark and dreamy debut reverses the vampire trend with a heroine whose heart’s desire is to regain her humanity and abandon her evil past. After more than 500 years as the queen of her English coven, perpetual 15-year-old Lenah finally has her chance to become human again when her vampire sire sacrifices himself for the necessary ritual. Determined to live her new days to the fullest before her coven finds and kills her for her betrayal, Lenah explores American teenage life at a boarding school in Massachusetts with best friend Tony and boyfriend Justin. Eventually discovered, abducted, and remade as a vampire, Lenah retains her soul and becomes something entirely new—a compassionate vampire with unexpected powers who can bridge the worlds. She returns to school and her friends, but the coven isn’t far behind, and they aren’t interested in mercy. Maizel’s lustrous style is occasionally uneven, but the captivating characters and intriguing story easily overcome the slight flaws. Vampire fans or not, readers will find a lot to enjoy in this exploration of the power of intent, desire, love, and sacrifice. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2010

Gr 8 Up-Lenah Beaudonte is an extremely powerful and ruthless vampire queen who is more than five centuries old. Unhappy with her vampire existence, she implores her vampire maker and lover Rhode to uncover an ancient ritual that can give her back her humanity. After hibernating for 100 years, Lenah wakes up as a human teenager enrolled at the exclusive Wickham Boarding School. Rhode has done everything to give her a new chance at life and in doing so has made the ultimate sacrifice-his own life. Mourning for him, Lenah seizes the chance to walk in the sunlight, have fun with friends, experience real emotions, and fall in love with a great guy. But Lenah knows that it is only a matter of time before her vicious coven opens her crypt and discovers her missing. Linked to her by dark magic, they will not rest until they find her, destroying the world she has come to love. Lenah is a unique and complex character whose emotions ring true. Her horrifying life as a vampire is revealed through a series of detailed and riveting flashbacks that are extremely effective in driving the plot and the decisions she makes. A promising start to a series, the story is filled with action, romance, longing, deception, and sacrifice. It will leave vampire fans thirsting for more.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

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